Identification-tag.



I. H. TAYLOR.

IDENTIFICATION TAG.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 23.19M-

1,246,753. MM Nov. 13-, 1917.

UNITED s'r 'rE-s PATENT onrrcn JAMES H. TAYLOR, F ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

IDENTIFICATION-TAG.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

nnmca'rrm TO THE PUBLIC.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES H. TAYLOR, an ofiicer of-the Government of the United States employed in and by the Navy Department, and a resident of Alexandria,

Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Identification-Tags; and in order-that those skilled in the art may understand and practice my invention I give the following description and specification thereof.

My invention relates to identification means for individuals, and has for its obj ect the provision of a certain and ready means of insuring the identification of the individual; and as a further object, thev provision of such means that may be readily and inexpensively manufactured in large quantities, that may be conveniently worn or carried on the person, and that will resist destruction and obliteration.

One of the main purposes of my inventionis to provide a certain, simple and inexpensive means of identification to be used by the enlisted men, oflicers and others con-' nected with the military, naval, police and other forces of the Government. Heretofore, so far as I am aware, identification tags have borne only the name or number 80 of the wearer or organization to which he belonged and in destructive disasters such I as shipwrecks, explosions, collisions, fires and the like, resulting in extensive destruction or dismemberment of the remains, the 85 tag or badge has become separated from the wearer and there has thus been 'no means of identifying the individual remains with the individual designated by the tag or badge. It is one of the purposes of my invention to provide means for insuring, so far as possible, thatin disasters, such as indicated, the means of identification shall be assured.

Accordingly, my invention consists in indelibly formin on an indestructible tag a fac-simile of t e finger-print of the individual. As is well known, finger-prints are a natural and personal mark of the individual and form a positive and certain means of'identification, and I therefore provide that the identification tag, badge or the like shall bear in permanent, indelible form such finger-print. My invention also consists in combining on the same tag with I 1 and also the attaching sisting and non-corrosive for this purpose is that such finger-print arbitrary identification marks such as the name, initials, rating, organization and other data of the individual. In order that my identification tag may be as indestructible as possible I make the same of a metal that will resist ahigh degree of temperature, such as occurs in fires and'explosions, and will be also inert to the action of moisture, sea-water and other corrosive and obliterating influences.

I have illustrated my invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a tag with its attaching wire, or the like,

or other portion of the body, and showing one side of the tag. Fi 2 represents the opposite side of the tag eating the fingerrint.

As before indicated, I construct thebadge wire 2 of heat-remetal. The metal I prefer to use known as Monel metal. This metal will not melt or fuse below 2847 degrees F. and saltwater and other corrosive influences do not affect it. The attaching wire 2 is also made of this metal'and is preferably incased in a cotton sleeve 3.

The tag 1 is made according to the following procedure: The surfaces of the tag.

should first be carefully cleaned from'grease and the like, which may be accomplished by washing in gasolene. Then make a rolled finger-print on one face thereof by rolling the finger on a surface of printers ink, taking-care to lightly and evenly coat the finger with the ink. The fingerprint impression is then imposed upon the tag by rolling the finger, so coated, lightly upon the surface of the. tag. The tag is then turned over, taking care to handle it by its edges, and on the other face thereof is written with a pen the desired data concerning the individual, such as the name, ratin organization, etc. For this purpose I pre er printers ink, thinned to the proper consistency by the addition of gasolene, turpentine, or the like; and the pen to be used should preferably bea clean bluntpoin-ted pen. While the ink is still fresh on both surfaces sprinkle thereover finely powdered gilsonite or asphaltum. powder should be fine enough to pass This for securing the same around the neck through a l00-mesh sieve. The powder should be sprinkled thickly on both surfaces and that which does not adhere to the inked design or impression should be removed by tapping and blowing. The powder will mix With the ink lines on the surfaces of the tag and adhere thereto. The tag so prepared is next heated over a flame or in an oven to a temperature somewhat above the boiling point of Water. This melts the asphaltum and the ink together, leaving the design in sharp, glossy black lines. The tag is next placed in a solution of nitric acid, prefermuriatic acid to ably of a strength of one part by volume of concentrated acid to tWo parts by volume of Water. Preferably, the tag is placed in this diluted acid with the finger-print side down as I have found that this favors deeper etching on the name side. If the action of the acid be too vigorous it may be moderated by the addition of more Water. Usually the process of etching requires about one hour. If the action ofthe acid be too slow in commencing a slight addition of muriatic acid may be made 6. 9., one part thirty parts of the nitric acid solution. After removal from the diluted acid the tags may be Washed in water and dried and are then completed. It Will be found that the lines of the design on both sides of the tag stand out in clear relief.

It will be understood that other acid resists and acids may be used Without departing from the invention, though Iprefer to employ those above stated.

As thefinger-print forms positive means .tically positive and sure of identification and as the finger-print markings can be discerned even Where injuries to the individual have been very extensive, the combination of such natural identifying means on the same tagfwith the name and other arbitrar data forms a pracmeans of identification even in cases Where extreme mutilation, injury curred.

What I claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An identification tag constructed of substantially indestructible and non-corrosive material and bearing indelibly thereon the finger-print of the individual.

2. An identification tag of substantially indestructible and non-corrosive material and bearing indelibly thereon the fingerprint of the individual, together with the name and other arbitrary identifying data.

3. An identification tag of fire-resistant and non-corrosive metal and bearing etched therein a. facsimile of the finger-print of the individual. I

4. An identification tag of fire-resistant and non-corrosive metal and bearing etched therein a facsimile of the finger-print of the individual, together with the name and other arbitrary identifying data.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of tWo subscribing Witnesses.

. JAMES H. TAYLOR. Witnesses: I

SAM PERLSTEIN, JULIA G. BOSWELL.

and dismemberment have 00 

